Sheffield United 2 Port Vale 1: Delighted Miller is aiming to make up lost time

But the standing ovation the former Crewe striker received when he made his 68th-minute entrance showed just how much the Bramall Lane faithful had missed the diminutive poacher.

The 26-year-old had not featured for the first team since being crocked on Boxing Day last year, suffering cruciate ligament damage to his knee.

He could not cap his return with a goal, but the Cheshire-born striker was on the pitch when captain Michael Doyle hammered in a deserved winner for the Blades.

The hosts had dominated the first 45 minutes, taken the lead via Neill Collins, before Daniel Jones was red-carded for two bookings.

But when Adam Yates produced a fluke equaliser just before half-time, the hosts – without a win since the opening day of the season, a run that had stretched to 13 games – could have been forgiven for fearing the worst.

“It was a relief, more so for the three points than on a personal level,” said Miller. “Obviously, I am delighted to get back in the squad and get on the pitch.

“The reaction from the fans was unbelievable. It gave me a a really big boost, and it’s another milestone ticked now.

“It’s been hard, just under 10 months – the best part of a year – watching the team struggling at the back end of last season, and obviously this year.

“I have been anxious to get back, but in a fit state – you don’t want to rush and get back too soon. I have done it right, worked hard and am finally back in the mix.

“The match fitness will take time to come but I am just delighted to be back on the pitch.

“It’s hard watching every week, it feels strange now being back playing. It’s what I love to do and what I have missed for such a long time.

“I am not a good watcher, especially towards the end of last season when we were so close (to promotion), it was gutting. Then to see us struggling this season has been hard. That three points should now kick us on.”

Miller – who has had three reserve games after being back in training for the last six weeks – expects to regain full match fitness by Christmas.

“I didn’t realise how serious it was when I got injured,” he said. “Obviously, the scan revealed how bad it was, I had never had the injury before.

“You always worry what if the operation doesn’t go quite to plan, but, touch wood, everything has gone well so far.”

The Blades took the lead when Collins headed home after Stephen McGinn’s corner created confusion in the Vale defence.

But despite an avalanche of chances, United could not convert their superiority into goals – Lyle Taylor and Febian Brandy going the closest – despite the visitors being reduced to 10 men after 20 minutes when former Sheffield Wednesday defender Jones was punished for two fouls.

Even so, it was a shock to everyone in Bramall Lane when Vale equalised just before half-time. Yates’s cross looked like evading everyone, but seemed to dip and leave goalkeeper George Long red-faced as it somehow crept under the crossbar.

The goal did seem to dent United’s confidence, and the second half was nowhere near as fluent at the opening 45 minutes.

But with frustration growing in the stands, up stepped Doyle to fire home a long-range shot after good work from Ryan Flynn down the right flank.

Victory lifted United off the bottom of League One and out of the drop zone so things are certainly looking up in S2.

“Getting out of the bottom four is massive,” said caretaker-manager Chris Morgan. “We needed to get going. I think it’s a difficult job because we are bottom of the league.

“For us, once a manager has been identified, if we can hand the reins over with a couple of good results, the club looks healthier. It’s easier for a new manager.

“I know they are working hard behind the scenes to get someone in as soon as possible. I am thinking I will prepare the team for Tuesday night, and if someone comes in then all the preparation is done.”

Tomorrow, United travel to Peterborough United and Morgan believes United fans are seeing the benefits of a half-time rollicking at Coventry City last week.

Trailing 2-0, Morgan tore into the players and they responded with a much-improved second-half as they battled back to 3-2.

“We have won a game and a half now if you count the second half at Coventry,” he smiled. “We asked for a response from the players. We asked questions of them last week, particularly at half-time. In the second half and today, they answered them, they have a great character amongst them.

“I questioned their application, the desire last week. To be 2-0 down at Coventry and play like we did was simply not good enough.

“We know we have good players, but good players can’t play unless they work hard. You have to work harder than the opposition.

“It was relief at the end, because we were under a bit of pressure then, but it’s just a feeling of delight at the three points,” said Morgan.

“That’s what we set off to do. It was massive we got a win today, that we had a reaction. We had a reaction in the second half at Coventry and I thought the lads took it on today. We thoroughly deserved the win.

“When the guy who starts at right-back, goes down the left wing, puts a cross in and it hits the post and goes in, you think ‘here we go again’.

“But it was important to speak to the lads at half-time. The chances we created in the first half were excellent. We could, and maybe should, have finished more chances off. But we showed a fantastic attitude to want to work, to put energy into the game. We played football, too, and the quality of football was reflected in the chances we created.”

Morgan has certainly tweaked things since Weir’s exit. He reverted to a 4-4-2 formation, and Flynn’s return gives balance to the midfield. While Weir wanted a patient build-up from the back, Morgan has given his players licence to get the ball forward quicker and be more attack-minded.

“David drilled the players when he came in June, he had a way he wanted to play,” said Morgan.

“Every manager has his own style.

“Today, the first thing I tried to do was pick as much experience in the team as I could.

“We went back to a 4-4-2, everybody knows their roles. It’s a simple formation if everybody works hard in it.”

Sheffield United: Long, McMahon, Collins, Maguire, Hill, Flynn (Westlake 88), Doyle, McGinn, Brandy (Coady 90), Taylor, King (Miller 68). Unused substitutes: Howard, Cuvelier, Lappin, Murphy.

Port Vale: Neal, Yates, Griffith (Birchall 80), Chilvers, Jones, Robertson, Myrie-Williams (Duffy 26), Lines, Loft, Pope, Hughes (Dodds 66). Unused substitutes: Johnson, Shuker, Williamson, Mohamed.